Birch Cup 2025: Liquid, NIP, Fnatic & More Confirmed for High-Stakes CS2 LAN in Gdańsk

Birch Cup 2025: Liquid, NIP, Fnatic & More Confirmed for High-Stakes CS2 LAN in Gdańsk

The full lineup is now set for Birch Cup 2025, a Counter-Strike 2 LAN event scheduled to take place from September 26-28, 2025, at the Kinguin Esports Lounge in Gdańsk, Poland. 

With a $15,000 USD prize pool on the line—$8,000 for first place, $3,200 for second, $1,700 for third, $1,000 for fourth, and $275 each for the teams finishing 5th-8th—Birch Cup is one of the significant Tier-2 tournaments in the late‐season calendar. 

---

Teams & Line-up Overview

A total of 24 teams will compete in Birch Cup 2025. The roster includes mix of established organizations, regional contenders, and wildcard entries. Big names confirmed include:

• Team Liquid

• Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP)

• fnatic

• ENCE

• OG Esports

Also included are regional squads and organizations like Gentle Mates (which replaced OG at late notice), Wildcard, ESC, Johnny Speeds, Betclic, AaB, Tricked, Inner Circle, kONO, Monte, Partizan, Phantom, MOUZ NXT, Nemesis, Valtrion, FUT, Venom, and ATOMIK. 

Some of these teams are entering via open qualifier brackets; others are among the top-ranked in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) and thus start directly in the Main Stage. 

---

Format & Structure

Here’s how Birch Cup 2025 is structured:

• Open Qualifiers: 16 teams compete in a double elimination bracket. The top 8 from this stage advance to the Main Stage.

• Main Stage: 16 teams total (8 seeded via VRS, 8 from Open Qualifiers) do battle in the Main Stage.

• Playoffs: The top 8 from the Main Stage move into a single elimination bracket with all matches being best-of-three (Bo3).

The event is offline (LAN) throughout, which adds importance—LAN results typically carry more weight for VRS and Major qualification considerations. 

---

Significance & Context

• VRS & Major Qualifier Implications: Birch Cup falls near the cutoff for the StarLadder Budapest Major invite. For many teams just outside the top 32 in VRS, good performances here could make all the difference.

• Tier-2 with a Stacked Field: Although deemed a Tier-2 event, the quality of participating organizations (Liquid, NIP, fnatic, ENCE, etc.) means this is more than just a minor LAN—expect high pressure and meaningful matches.

• Geography & Venue: Gdańsk has become a popular location in the European esports LAN circuit. The Kinguin Esports Lounge will host the entire event including Open Qualifiers and Main Stage. This ensures stability of environment and travel logistics for teams.

---

Prize Distribution

Here are the breakdowns for prize money at Birch Cup 2025:

Placement	Prize
1st place	US$8,000
2nd place	US$3,200
3rd place	US$1,700
4th place	US$1,000
5-8th	US$275 each

All other placings beyond 8th do not get a listed prize in public sources. 

---

Key Teams to Watch & Predictions

• Team Liquid: Currently outside the very top of the VRS but with strong experience and potentially high upside. This event is a chance for them to solidify their position.

• NIP (Ninjas in Pyjamas): Often considered favorites in European LANs, they will likely be heavily seeded and expected to make deep progress.

• fnatic & ENCE: Both have shown fluctuations in form but have high ceilings when on point. If their key players step up, they could upset expectations.

• Wildcard / Regional Teams: For teams like Gentle Mates, ESC, ATOMIK, Inner Circle, etc., Birch Cup represents exposure, experience, and a chance to pick up VRS points and upset bigger names.

---

Schedule & Important Dates

• Event Dates: September 26‒28, 2025

• Venue: Kinguin Esports Lounge, Gdańsk, Poland

• Stages: Open Qualifiers (initial double-elim bracket), Main Stage (16 teams), Playoffs (Bo3 single elimination)